January 24, 2010 has really been a remarkable day for me that’s why I have to share this with you.
My association with tea is always material because it is my bread and butter. Marketing, writing, promotions and trying to prove myself seemed so small from what Tea gave me this day. I received two great ‘Darshans’.
Yes, Jason you are right on ‘Spirituality of TEA’. Tea brings you closer to Grace.
Mr.Nielsson, an elderly man, a retired professor of Chemistry from Copenhagen visited our Shangrila tea room, in Goa. He has been drinking and enjoying tea for more than 50 years.
While we were brewing and tasting he became ‘very very’ emotional about a particular variety. The Margarets Hope Muscatel variety. He revealed that he had tasted such quality after a long time and his emotions really touched our soul.
This was just another sale for me but later when I put myself on his boots I found out how important this experience was for him. Mr.Nielsson had blessed us which we realized only after he left.
This blessing came in disguise and almost instantly after a few hours. Swamijee Rajneesh parked a huge car in front of our parking lot and headed straight to our shop to buy some gifts for a friend who was leaving for South Korea.
This was a real…. blessing. Swamijee also blessed us. He filled our small store with grace.
My wife and I were immensely touched by Mr.Nielsson. With utmost regards to him, we are not posting any of his photographs to respect and honor his privacy.
Many Thanks, Mr.Nielsson. With all due respect, I know you will be back in Copenhagen few days from now. This post is dedicated to you.
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Dear friends in Goa
When Sus and I came home to Copenhagen we were genuinely surprised to see that we were the subject of your latest post in your blog. I have read it several times, thought about it the night over, and I think the best answer I can give is to give you my version of
Spirituality of Tea
Who would ever have considered the possibility of meeting a master in tea in Goa, where everything is designed for consumption and tourists? Neverthelesss, in a small shop in the northern end of Candolim Beach I quite unexpectedly met a spiritual teacher disguised as a tea merchant.
I won’t ever forget the tea ceremony which was like a demonstration of elements from the Noble Eightfold Way of Buddha. The tea was served with a strong awareness of the moment, with small precise movements of the hands and only with the necessary comments. Such an atmosphere of concentration and one-pointedness is almost like meditation and gives you a very clear consciousness of what you are doing. One of the teas tried was the exquisite Muscatel Tea from Margarets Hope and it was so delightful that I haven’t tasted anything alike for many, many years. I bought half a kilogram and hope to share it with some trusted friends here in Denmark. Needless to say, I will present them to the same tea ceremony and play the role of the tea master.
When I left the shop it was obvious to me that this was a meeting between two related souls although we had a very different background. I have given it some thought and believe that what we had in common was openness and curiosity. Discovering the qualities of tea is like research, where you have to be completely absorbed in the process, while at the same time keeping the distance and classifying the properties of the tea objectively. The prevailing feelings when you meet tea of thes quality are humbleness and gratitude while craving is wholly absent. The Buddha way again!
So thank you very much. I am certain that we will meet again.